Begonia plant named ‘Bkpbeens’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bkpbeens’, characterized by its broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and double flowers that are light red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEENS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred toas Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bkpbeens’.

The new Begonia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofBegonia x hiemalis ‘Batik’, not patented. The new Begonia plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin a population of plants of ‘Batik’ in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Landau, Germany in August, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlandssince June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Begoniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bkpbeens’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bkpbeens’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Double flowers that are light red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the mutationparent, ‘Batik’. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plantsof ‘Batik’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double in form        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Batik’ are semi-double in form.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Batik’ differ in flower color        as plants of ‘Batik’ have bright orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia xhiemalis ‘Bkpbeegl’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,825. Plants ofthe new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Outer tepals of plants of the new Begonia have entire margins        whereas outer tepal margins of plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ are incised.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Bkpbeegl’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Bkpbeegl’ have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia xhiemalis ‘Nelly’, not patented. Plants of the new Begonia differprimarily from plants of ‘Nelly’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are double in form        whereas flowers of plants of ‘Nelly’ are single to semi-double        in form.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Nelly’ differ in flower color        as plants of ‘Nelly’ have salmon pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bkpbeens’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of a typicalflower bud and the upper and lower surfaces of typical developed flowersand leaves of ‘Bkpbeens’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown during the autumn in 12-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures rangedfrom 19° to 21° C. Plants were eight weeks from planting rooted cuttingswhen the photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘Bkpbeens’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia    hiemalis ‘Batik’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about            25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at            temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants            of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright to outwardly            spreading and mounded plant habit; overall plant shape,            broadly obovate; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate            growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 24.7            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 36.4 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about four basal branches developing            per plant; pinching is not required. Length: About 11.6 cm.            Diameter: About 8 mm to 9 mm. Internode length: About            2.9 cm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from            vertical. Texture and luster, young stems: Sparsely to            moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            developed stems: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,            developing: Close to 146C; at the internodes, close to 185A.            Color, fully developed: Close to 148B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 14.9 cm. Width: About 10.7 cm. Shape: Ovate, unequal.            Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique, lobes meeting to slightly            imbricate. Margin: Serrate to dentate; moderately to            strongly and coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture            and luster, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent along veins;            moderately glossy. Venation pattern: Laciniate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A tinged with            close to 152A; venation, close to 144A. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 177B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Darker than between 139A and N189A; venation, close            to 152A to 152B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 148B moderately to strongly tinged with close to 178A;            venation, close to 152B. Petioles: Length: About 6.4 cm.            Diameter: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong,            flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            152B tinged with close to N170A; at the proximal base, close            to 185A. Color, lower surface: Close to 152B tinged with            close to 199A. Stipules: Quantity per leaf: Two. Length:            About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.            Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Entire,            irregularly ciliate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate double sterile flowers arranged in            axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit with about            nine flowers per cyme and about 180 flowers developing per            plant during the flowering season; flowers face upright to            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants            flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn            in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,            plants begin flowering about 35 days after exposure to            photoinductive treatments.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain            good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior            environment.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 15.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter, flattened:            About 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly circular; flattened. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous, slightly velvety; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to between 145D and 150D; towards the            margins and apex, close to 39B.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 4.1 cm. Depth: About 2.2 cm.            Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Four per flower arranged            in two whorls. Length, lower tepals: About 3.1 cm. Width,            lower tepals: About 3.7 cm. Length, upper tepals: About            2.4 cm. Width, upper tepals: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Roughly            reniform. Apex: Rounded. Base: Reniform. Margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte to slightly            glossy. Color, lower tepals: When opening, upper surface:            Close to 38B; margins, close to 48A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 37A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            37B; margins, close to 48B; venation, close to between 50A            and 53D; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 29C; center, close to 35B to 35C;            venation, close to 151A to 151B; color does not fade with            development. Color, upper tepals: When opening, upper            surface: Close to between 37C and 38B; margins, close to 51B            to 51C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 38D; towards            the base, close to 145D; margins, close to between 47D and            51B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 38A; margins,            close to 48B to 48C; venation, close to between 50A and 53C;            color does not fade with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 38C to 38D; margins, close to 48B to 48C;            venation, close to 151A to 151B; color does not fade with            development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement: About 20            arranged in multiple whorls at the center of the flower.            Length: About 1.4 cm to 1.8 mm. Width: About 9 mm to 18 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded to obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 150D; towards the            margins and apex, close to 36C; margins, close to 51B. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the margins            and apex, close to 36B to 36C; margins, close to 51B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to between 37B and 38B;            margins, close to 51B; venation, similar to lamina colors;            color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to between 36A and 38D; margins, close to            52C; venation, similar to lamina colors; color does not            change with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.6 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to            7 mm. Angle: About 35° from lateral branch axis. Strength:            Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Sparsely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:            About 20° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately            strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy.            Color: Close to 145A distally tinged with close to 153C.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,            opposite. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape:            Broadly ovate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.            Margin: Entire, finely ciliate. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 146C; towards the apex, tinged            with close to 175A.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed, all structures            transformed into tepaloids.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia as flowers are            sterile.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new    Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for    USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Bkpbeens’ asillustrated and described.